Old Fashioned Chicken and Fluffy Drop Dumplings

vegetable shortening

self rising flour

dried chives, or 1 tablespoon of fresh snipped chives

milk

small hen, whole chicken or a mixture of other chicken parts

large stalk of celery , sliced thin

of a large onion , chopped

medium carrots , chopped, optional

reserved chicken stock

chicken base (like Better Than Bouillon), optional

kosher salt , or to taste

freshly cracked black pepper , or to taste

rosemary , crushed

dried thyme , crushed

bacon fat or butter

all purpose flour

milk or half and half

frozen peas , optional